Automobile-body.



. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. W. 0. THOMAS & H. G. MOORE.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 872,031. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. W. 0. THOMAS, & H. G. MOORE.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1906.

3 SHEETSSH BET 2.

No. 872,031. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907. W. O. THOMAS & H. G. MOORE.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UN IE1) STATES 'ATENT OFFIOE,

WILLIE O. THOMAS, OF RIVERSIDE, AND HARRY G. MOORE, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

AUTOBIOBILE-BODY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed August 29,1906- Serial 110,332,412.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIE O. THOMAS and HARRY G. Moons, a subject ofGreat Britain and citizen of the United States, re spectively, residingat Riverside and Chicago, respectively, in the county of Cook and Stateoflllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomobile-Bodies,

" of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile bodies, and refersmore specifically to a construction in which the under frame and sidesandends are made integral with each other.

Among the salient objects of the invention are, to rovide a constructionin which the usual chassis or under-frame is dispensed with and the sideand end walls continued downwardly to form parts corresponding to andperforming the functions of such underframe members; to provide in sucha body a construction in which sundry applied parts, as for example theheel guards and tool and battery boxes, are so mounted as to add theirstrength and stillness to the strength and stiffness of the side wallsof the body, rendering the structure as a whole sufficientlyrigid andstrong to enable the usual underframe ,members to be dispensed with; toprovide a construction in which the side bodies are in themselves soformed as to afford a maximum strength and rigidity against vertical orbreaking-down stresses; to provide a construction in which the necessityof brackets,

hangers and other accessories for supporting the several parts, isdispensed with; to minimize the cost of construction; to provide aconstruction which conforms in general to the accepted or conventionalform of automobile bodies now in use; to provide ii'nproveinents incertain details of construction iJFigure l is a side elevation of anautomoone body constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention, therelation of the wheels to the body being indicated in dotted lines; Fig.2 is a plan view of the body sho n in Fig. 1; Fig. Sis a transverse,sectional view on line 33 of Fi 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are correspondingtransverse, vertical sectional views taken on lines jl-4, 5-5 and 66,respectively, of i ig. 2. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view throughone of the sides, taken on line 77 of Fig. 1, and looking downwardlythis section, however, being taken through the side remote from theobserver, as seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken on line88 of Fig. 1 and showing the manner in which the meeting edges of thebody sides and back are united.

In the construction of automobile bodies of the general type shownherein, owing to the relatively long wheel base and relatively greatweight which must be supported, great difiiculty has been experiencer inso constructing the bodies as to prevent vertical flexing of the body,and consequent distortion of the joints, buckling of the side walls,

and general racking of the structure. It has been the practiceheretofore, invariably, so

far as we are aware, to provide a relatively heavy and strong chassisframe, and upon this to mountand support a separate body. Neverthelessthe difliculties have-not been obviated.

In carrying out the present invention, the Sides 11 of the vehicle bodyare formed of relatively heavy sheet-metal, and the body sides, insteadof terminating at a point about coincident with the floor of the body,are continued downwardly to form vertical web-like extensions 2 ofconsiderable vertical depth below the floor line of the body. Inthepreferred embodiment shown, these vertical web portions 2 are set backor recessed so as to stand underneath the-upper portion of the body, asindicated clearly in several crosssectional views {relatively short,horizontal flange-like portions 8-3 being formed at the points where thevertical webs join the upper side bodies. The lower edges of thewebsterminate in horizontally-extending flanges 4-4; the offset portions 3andflanges 4, together with the vertical Web portions 2,for1ning astructure channel shaped in cross section. The web extensions 2 terinate somewhat short of the ends of the iibd at each end, to formclearance between gody and at '5 and 6, Fig. 1, and the axles asindicated reer end wall. 7 of the body terminates at its lower edge inthe plane of the offsets 3.

The upper side bodies above'the' ofisets 3 are flared upwardlyandoutwardly, as shown, and at their u per edges are shaped in a usualmanner to inc ose the seats, as indicated atB and 9, and to provide theintervening entrance openin s 10 and 11. At their front ends, the sidebodies rise to ooints midheight of the hood 12, and preferably, at theirupper edges terminate in inturned. flanges, as 1nd1- cated at 13, Fig.3, to which flanges the lower edges of the hood member 12 may be securedin any suitable or referred manner. Just in rear of the hood t e sidebodies are provided with narrow upwardly extending extensions 14:, whichinclose and are secured against a cross artition or bulk head, asindicated in dotte lines at 15. It is to be understood that each sidebody, in so far as the parts thus far described are concerned, is eitherof single-piece or integral construction, struck out by means of diesfrom suitable, relatively heavy sheet-metal such as mild steel, or ofseveral sheets similarly formed and afterwards riveted or secured intoone piece.

In order to reinforce the side bodies, wheel guards, as-16 and 17,respectively, areprovided, likewise formed of relatively heavy sheetmetal, and having their edges secured directly against'the respectiveside bodies. The front wheel guards 16 may be of the usual se mentalshape, made outwardly flaring, an attheir inner edges are'provided withdownturned flangesf18 (see Fig. 3),

which are riveted directly against the side step.

ginal dmvnturned flanges 17 which are rivcted directly against the sidebodies, and these guards are also provided at their lower ends withlus'rizu-ntal flanges 17", which underlie and are secured to the footboards 20. It will be obvious that the wheel guards, constructed andarranged as described, perform applied to the functions of reinforcingribs their addi the said bodies, in addition to tional function as wheelguards. In order to further reinforce the said bodies, boxes as 21 and22, are mounted upon each foot board; these boxes being so constructedas to fitnerower front end, as seen 7 flange 4, the said flanges 4 maythemselves be extended for a The rear wheel guards 17'are, in agenerally siniil ar manner, provided with mar-.

purpose of special co curately within the reeessed extensions 2, as

best seen in Figs. 1, e and 5, so that they form, in effect, fillingblocks or gusset-s coon ing the angles formed between. the upper sidesof the footboards and the outer sid of the respective web extensions.These boxes 21 and22 of rich there are preferably two at each side,spaced apartin ositionsintermediate the len th of the we extensions C soas to best-reinforce and stii'ien the latter.

cod that these boxes, in add}: arcing {one serve the Jools, battery andother it being undertion to their re usual boxes cessories. 1 1relatively heavy respectively provided with flanges, 23 and 2e, rivetedagainst the faces of the web errtensions 2 the bottom members of theboxes being also provided with horizontal, flanges 25 (see Fig. '2"),which rest upon an are riveted boxes will, of course, be provided withsuitable lids, as 25, suitably hinged so as to be lifted up.

The offset horizontal portions 3 of the side bod es form suitable stopsorshoulders upon which the flooring 28 of the body is supportei'erably,they are formed sheet metal the sides being inturned to the respectivetoot boards. The

ed, and this floor will usually be made or relatively rigid material insupporting the side bodies against transverse flexureE The transversepartition or bulkhead 15, hereinbefore described, also serves the samefunction of stiffening the body transversely.

As a feature of some importance, both in imparting to the body a neatand'rakish appearance, and also in minimizing construction,

so as to contribute the cost-ofthe side bodies are made straight in planview, and arranged to minverge from the wider rear end to the narclearlyin plan, Fig.

2; By so constructing the bodv, the front part thereof issuilicientlynarrow to permit the front or steer ng wheels to oscillatethrough-relatively wide angles, while the rear portions of the body areroomy and afford a wide bearing support to rest upon the supportingsprings.

A transverse partition member 29 not only forms the back for the frontseat 8 but is continued from the upper e l're oi the seat downwardly tothe a both, and thus constitutes 'mrtli member or strut enter ling b wr..n bodies in termedia e le. tl oi tn bony. The side bodies 1 vehiclebody will usually be 'rovided with side doors to close the space betweenthe front I 3 but inasmuch as we propose r aseparateapplieation, theyomitted in door may be mounted in any usual manner upon the body hereindescribed.

As a further subsidiary feature of the invention,the cushions of the twoseats 8 and 9 are so constructed and arranged as to form storage spacesor receptacles for small articles, such as umbrellas, gloves etc. Tothis end the seat cushions 30 are made of a width to terminate at theirrear edges at a' distance away from the back board ofthe seatapproximately to' the thickness of the back cushions 31, and the latterare in like manner arranged to terminate at their lower edges at pointsapproximately coincident with the upper surfaces of the scat cushions.The

cushions are suitably secured in these relative positions, and, whenthus arranged, form spaces or receptacles, as 32 and 33, in the anglesbetween the seat boards and back boards of the body frame. Access tothese spaces is had through the slot like openings 34 between theproximate corners of the upr and lower cushions, as seen clearly 1nFig. 1. .It will, of course, be understood, that this feature ofthe'inventi'on may be embodied in other vehicle bodies, and is notnecessarily combined with a construction like that herein described.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the several objectsof the invention hereinbefore stated are fully attained, and a vehiclebody produced which combines at once maximum strength with minimumweight, and is also of extremely neat and finished appearance. Moreover,by forming the side bodies integral throughout, the presence of jointsis avoided, and the working stresses brought upon the side bodies cannottend to lessen the rigidity and strength of the structure. Thetransverse strengthening afforded by the wheel guards, the accessoryboxes, the peculiar construction of the side bodies and the transversepartitions, absolutely preclude lateral or transverse bending of theside bodies to an extent suflicient to permit the latter to buckle, andaccordingly the strength of the side bodies to resist vertical stressesis approximately equal to that of a web of the thickness of the materialused, and-of a depth equal to the distance between the lower edges ofthe openings 10 and 11 and the bottom edges of the side bodies..-

The flanges 4 at the lower edges of the side bodies; the offsethorizontal portions 3 inter-- mediate the height of the side bodies, andthe wheel guards and boxes, obviously stiffen the body as a wholeagainst directly transverse stresses. The manner in which the boxes aresecured to the web extensions and to the foot boards obviously serves tosupport the foot boards fully as efi'ectually as the hanger or bracketsusually employed,

thus enabling the latter to be dispensed with,

the lower edges of the side bodies absolutely ri id a ainst lateralflexure and conse uent buckling. These and numerous other features aresecured by the construction described, while at the same time the costof manufacture is reduced, both in the forming of the arts and in thesubsequent assemblingo the same.

It will be obvious that the details oi construction may be somewhatmodified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. An automobile body having side-bodies formed of sheet metal extendingcontinuously both above and below the floor plane of the body throughoutthe principal length of the body, and laterally outstanding structuralmembers rigidly secured to said sidebodies below said floor plane andforming reinforcements to the transverse and vertical strength of theside-bodies.

2. An automobile body having side-bodies formed of sheet metalconstructed to extend uninterruptedly both above and below the floorlane of the body throughout the principal ength of the latter, offsetrib or flangelike portions arran ed to extend longitudinally of eachside lg ody at or near the floor plane -and laterally extendingstructural members rigidly secured to said side bodies below said floorplane and forming reinforcements to the transverse and vertical strengthof the side bodies.

3. An automobile body having side bodies formed of sheet metalconstructed to extend uninterruptedly both above and below the floorlane of the body throiighout the principal ength of the latter, theportions below the said floor plane being offset to stand in uprightplanes inside of the planes of the upper parts of the body, one or moresheet metal wheel guards secured edgewise and directly against theexterior of each side body and a foot board secured edgewise against thelower marginal portion of each side-body.

' bile side body provided along-its lower mar} nel-portion of theside-body, the lower ends with an inset web-like portion bounded andhaving its adjoining edge overlap ing 1 and secured to the lower 'llangeoi'the c anof said wheel guards being flanged and lapped upon, andsecured to the corresponding ends of said foot board.

5. An automobile side body consisting of a 'formed of sheet metalextending uninterruptedly both above and below the floor plane of thebody, each side body being sheet of metalhaving its marginal upperportions shaped to the contour of the box portion of the vehicle, anintegral channelshaped extension extending along its lower margin belowthe floor plane of the vehicle, a sheet metal wheel guard flanged andriveted edgewise against said side body near each end thereof, a footboard secured to extend along the lower edge of the side body and havingits adjoining edge overlapping and secured to the lower flange of thechannelportion of the side body, the lower ends of said Wheel guardsbeing flanged and lapped upon and secured to the corresponding ends ofsaid foot board and one or more boxes fit v ted into the channelportion, resting upon the foot board and secured rigidly to each.

6. In'combination, a sheet metal automogin with an inset web-likeportion bounded above and below by outstanding angle portions and a footboard secured to said lower an is portion, whereby the web-likeportionand footdaoard together perform the iunction of an angle under-framemember. Y Z. In combination, a-sheet metal automobile side body providedalong its lower margin with an inset web-like portionbounded above andbelow byoutstanding angle por tions, a foot board-secured to said loweran gle portion, and a plurality of spaced apart gusset members unitingthe foot board and the web-like portion of the side body. 8. incombination, a sheet metal automobile body provided along its lowermargin above and below by outstanding angle portions, a loot boardsecured to said lower an- I gle portion, and oi spaeed-apart gussetmembers uniting the board and Web-like portion of the side body, saidgussetmembers having sheet metal having their back and bottom sidesriveted to the web-like portion foot board respectively.

9. An automobile body havin side bodies formed with an inset angleportion extending longitudinally thereoi and forming an internalfloor-s11 porting ledg floor mounted upon said edges, a p

tit-.011 extending between and uniting saidside bodies from said floorupwardly to the top of a seat located intermediate the length of thebody and forming a back for said seat, a second partition or bulkheadextending between said side bodies at the rear end of the hood and arear end wall substantially asdescribed.

10. An automobile body having side bodies formed of sheet extendinguninterruptedly both above and below the floor lane of the body, eaehside body being formed with an inset an le' ortion extendinglongitudinally thereo an form ng an internal floor su porting ledge,.--afloor mounted uponsaid ledges, a partition extending between and unitingsaid side bodies from said floor upwardly to the to eta-seat locatedintermediate the lengt of the body and forming a back for said seat, asecond pan tition or bulkhead extending betwe irsaid side bodies'attherear end of the bed, and rear end Wall, the side bodies being substantially straight in plan and arranged td eonverge from the rear end'ofthe body icr- Wardly throughout the length thereof.

WILLIE O. THOIVZASQ HARRY G. MOORE, Witnesses: i

EMILIE Rosa, ALBERT H. GRAVES.

